Cattle-buffalo Trade Network Construction in Northeast of Thailand: A Case Study of Nai-Hoi in Ban Nong Kae Community, Rob Muang Sub-district, Muang District, Roi Et Province, During 2007-2021

Abstract

This article aims to study the development and change of the cattle-buffalo trade as well as the establishment of the cattle-buffalo trade network of Nai-Hoi in Ban Nong Kae Community, Rob Muang Sub-district, Muang District, Roi Et Province. The study is conducted by using an oral history study method and datasets from related research and documents. The results reveal that before 1927, the cattle-buffalo trade of Nai-Hoi in Ban Nong Kae Community used a herding trade, relying on a wagon route and a network of virtual relatives called "Siao" to supply and buy cattle-buffalo along the herding route to sell. After that, during 1938-1977, the government built a railway route and Mittraphap Road. So, Nai-Hoi had to use trains and trucks to transport cattle-buffalo to sell instead of herding them. Consequently, the herding trade gradually disappeared until, during 1978-2007, Nai-Hois’ group completely used trucks to transport cattle-buffalo to sell. Due to the transportation in the city becoming more convenient and cattle-buffalo trade transitioning into a new trading system called "online trading" from 2008 to 2021, Nai-Hois had traded the cattle-buffalo through social networking services, including LINE, Facebook, and various web pages. As a result, the cattle-buffalo trade became even more complicated. The  body of knowledge is that the method of building a cattle-buffalo trade network of Nai-Hois’ group has always been adapted according to the socio-economic context. More importantly, the development of transportation and communication causes the cattle-buffalo trade network and a new form of relationship through LINE, Facebook, websites, and Facebook Pages that are more complicated and extensive than ever before.